The San Francisco 49ers announced their 2012 preseason schedule, and for the first time since 2000, they will not face the Oakland Raiders. Following the violence at Candlestick Park last season, the two teams agreed to put the series on hold for the near future. The 49ers will face off against the Minnesota Vikings, Houston Texans, Denver Broncos and San Diego Chargers.
The 49ers week one matchup against the Vikings marks the first time since 2010 the teams will face each other in the preseason and will be the seventh time overall. The 49ers hold the overall preseason series record, 4-3, after knocking off the Vikings at Candlestick Park in 2010, 15-10
The 49ers week two contest against the Texans marks only the second preseason game between the 49ers and Texans, and the first in Houston. The Texans defeated the 49ers, 30-7, at Candlestick Park during the 2011 preseason.
The 49ers will travel to Denver in week three to face the Broncos in a game that will be nationally broadcast by FOX. I would imagine the subplot of Alex Smith versus Peyton Manning will be intriguing to some, even if it is just a preseason game. This will mark the 34th preseason contest between the two teams, with Denver holding an 18-15 edge over San Francisco. In their last preseason matchup at Denver in 2005, the Broncos beat the 49ers, 26-21. The last time the 49ers matched up against the Broncos in the preseason was in 2009, when the 49ers pulled out a 17-16 victory at Candlestick Park.
The 49ers will wrap up the preseason against the San Diego Chargers. This marks the 26th consecutive year in which the two teams have met in the preseason. The all-time preseason series is knotted at 20 games apiece after the 49ers won, 20-17, in San Diego last preseason. It marks the 18th preseason matchup in San Francisco, with the 49ers holding a 13-4 series advantage at home.